unit 1
democracy
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives
oligarchy
unitary government
a centralized government
majority rule
The majority of a group votes something
executive branch
consists of the President, his or her advisors and various departments and agencies
authoritarian
characterized by highly concentrated and centralized government power maintained by political repression and the exclusion of potential or supposed challengers by armed force.
monarchy
a form of government with a monarch at the head.
confederate government
an association of independent states
constitution
the official document of agreements of fundamental principles.
legislative branch
made up of the House and Senate, known collectively as the Congress
representative democracy
government elected by citizens
checks & balances
On ebranch of government checking another
popular sovereignty
which the people of federal territories should decide for themselves whether their territories would enter the Union as free or slave states
articles of confederation
created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments
judicial branch
two appellate courts: the Supreme Court of Maryland, and the Appellate Court of Maryland; and two trial courts: the Circuit Court and the District Court
direct democracy
decision making or direct vote a proposal, law, or political issue by the electorate, rather than being voted on by representatives in a state or local legislature or council
powers
the constitutional authority and inherent power of a state to adopt and enforce laws and regulations to promote and support public health, safety, morals, and general welfare
rule of law
the restriction of the arbitrary exercise of power by subordinating it to well-defined and established laws.
declaration of independence
summarized the colonists' motivations for seeking independence
judicial review
the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution
dictatorship
A area controlled by one person
federalism
limited government
government is limited both in the exercise of its delegated powers and in the means it can employ, which must be both “necessary and proper"
purpose of goverment
to maintain social and ecological order
Veto
the right to dismiss a vote or decision